Dehumming a chime with a video doorbell

ABSTRACT

A circuit is described for powering a chime that outputs audio in response to detection of an entity by a video doorbell. The circuit includes a rectifier circuit configured to generate a first signal based on a power source and a first switch coupled to the rectifier circuit. The first switch is configured to provide, based on the first signal, a first DC voltage signal during a first operating mode where the doorbell receives input that triggers actuation of the chime in response to detection of the entity. The circuit includes a second switch coupled to the rectifier circuit and the first switch. Based on the first signal, the second switch provides a second DC voltage signal during a second operating mode where the chime outputs the audio based on the input that triggers actuation of the chime in response to detection of the entity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/945,790, filed on Dec. 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

This specification relates to circuitry for chimes and doorbell systemsinstalled at a property or residence.

BACKGROUND

Doorbells and related monitoring devices are often used at various typesof properties, such as a home or commercial business. These doorbellsand related devices can be implemented in different ways when installedat a particular location of the property. Some doorbells includehardware circuitry that provide different types of monitoring andcontrol functionality. The functionality afforded by these doorbells,and their respective hardware circuitry, can include wireless and audiosignal transmissions. These signal transmissions can be leveraged tomonitor persons or items at a property as well as to obtain visualinformation about the items and communicate with persons at property.

The video doorbell may be a newer type of Wi-Fi video doorbell thatreplaces the conventional doorbell buttons typically found on homes orproperties. Consumers and service providers typically reuse the existingdoorbell components and wiring to save installation time and cost.Installation uses the existing wiring, alternating-current (AC)transformer, and an indoor chime. The existing wiring and transformermay not offer adequate energy profiles to meet unique power requirementsof newer video/Wi-Fi doorbells. Also, indoor chimes often generateunwanted noise based on the power signals output by the transformer aswell as the power demands of the Wi-Fi video doorbell.

SUMMARY

Video doorbells can be specifically designed to use or reuse an AC stepdown transformer. These transformers may be properly wired to power thechime and the front door. An existing transformer can dictate thestructure used in the internal power supplies of video doorbells. Insome instances, this power structure creates large narrow peak currentsthat cause the existing indoor chime (e.g., mechanical chime) to emit ahum. Because of this hum home owners and installers are required toinstall, inside the home and on the existing chime, a bypass circuit.

In view of the above, this document describes an improved hardwarecircuit for powering a chime that outputs audio in response to detectionof an entity by a video doorbell. More specifically, this documentdescribes techniques for implementing a system that includes a videodoorbell and an indoor chime as well as a hardware circuit with onetransistor configured as a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch and atleast one other transistor configured as a current-controlled device topower the video doorbell during an operating mode of the system wherethe video doorbell receives input that triggers actuation of the chimein response to detection of the entity. The disclosed hardware circuitryincludes a unique implementation of a voltage divider circuit along witha transistor-configured SPDT to switch between at least two signal pathsof the circuit.

For example, the hardware circuit passes the current and voltageintended to be applied to the chime through a rectifier to create DCvoltage and current. Also, rather than a normally-closed single polesingle throw (SPST) relay, the SPDT switch is used where one throw runsall of the power through a first circuit path during normal operationand upon ringing of the chime, the SPDT turns off the first circuit pathand a second, different path of the circuit is turned on (e.g., selectedor used) to allow current to flow through the chime. In someimplementations, the hardware circuit may be used as an alternative tohaving an inside detection circuit that opens and closes a bypasscircuit. In some other implementations, the hardware circuit may be usedin addition to (or concurrent with) an inside detection circuit thatopens and closes a bypass circuit.

Based on this implementation, the system is configured to eliminate orsubstantially reduce mechanical chime hum (e.g., unwanted humming) thatcan occur when a video doorbell is installed at a property. Eliminationor substantial reduction of the chime hum using the disclosed system andhardware circuit can thus eliminate the need to install additionaldehumming circuitry at the property, which reduces the cost andinstallation time required to install video doorbell.

Other implementations of this and other aspects include correspondingsystems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform theactions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices. A computingsystem of one or more computers or hardware circuits can be soconfigured by virtue of software, firmware, hardware, or a combinationof them installed on the system that in operation cause the system toperform the actions. One or more computer programs can be so configuredby virtue of having instructions that, when executed by data processingapparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matterdescribed in this specification are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other potential features, aspects,and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from thedescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates example doorbell circuits that are configured toeliminate the hum of a chime due to currents running through the chimeto power the doorbell.

FIGS. 2, 7B, and 7C illustrate example doorbells.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example bypass board that is configured toeliminate the hum of a chime.

FIGS. 4A-4C, 5, 6, 7A, 8, and 9-11 illustrate example voltage andcurrent measurements of example doorbell circuits.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example security monitoringsystem.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document describes techniques for implementing an improved hardwarecircuit of a system that includes a power source, video doorbell, andindoor chime installed at a property. The hardware circuitry can beconfigured to eliminate unwanted humming that occurs when the powersource, e.g., a transformer, supplies power to the video doorbell andindoor chime.

FIG. 1 illustrates example doorbell circuits 102, 104 that are eachconfigured to mitigate the hum of a chime due to currents runningthrough the chime to power the doorbell. These doorbell circuits may usea shunting impedance to send some but not all of the current around thechime reducing the current through it and the hum. In some instances,these doorbell circuits 102, 104 are example bypass circuits that areconnected to power hungry video doorbells. With the higher power videodoorbells, these bypass circuit designs allow current to flow throughthe mechanical chime but may not reduce the mechanical chime currentenough to keep it from humming. The mechanical chime of a doorbell canbe rung by an AC waveform when the doorbell circuit shorts the buttonwires. There may be an issue with magnetizing the chime if DC power isused. FIG. 1 also illustrates an example system that includes device112, 114 for enclosing an example bypass circuit 102, 104, respectively.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example video doorbell circuit 200. Referringbriefly to an example conventional home doorbell wiring diagram, afront, non-video doorbell has a button which is a mechanical switch thatmay be mounted on the outside of a property, such as a house (or otherstructure), and is connected to both a transformer by one wire and anindoor chime. The indoor chime can be a mechanical chime (or anelectronic chime). The front non-video, doorbell circuit button is openuntil a person presses it. In other words, the front non-video doorbellbutton corresponds to a normally open switch of a circuit in the frontdoorbell, where the switch closes in response to the front doorbellbutton being pressed or depressed by a user. Pressing the front doorbellbutton closes the switch and completes a portion of the doorbell circuitso that power supplied by the transformer is applied to the indoorchime. This application of transformer power to the indoor chime causesthe familiar doorbell sound such as “ding dong.”

Referring now to the video doorbell circuit, circuit 200 includes amechanical chime 210, a video doorbell 220, and a transformer 230. FIG.2 illustrates that the wiring to power the video doorbell passes throughthe mechanical chime 210. In FIG. 2, the mechanical chime 210 is wiredin series with the transformer and provides a current path to thedoorbell 220. A bypass board 300 (described below) of FIG. 3 can providea current path to the doorbell 220 both while ringing the chime andwhile operating normally.

Circuit 200 is an example circuit schematic that includes circuitelements of the video doorbell 220, transformer 230, and mechanicalchime 210. Circuit 200 also includes a diode bridge D1 and a capacitorC1 that are inputs to a first stage of a power supply in a typical videodoorbell. Examples values for capacitor C1 can be 47 μF to 330 μF,however other values may be used based on design preference. The reasona video doorbell 220 causes a chime 210 to hum, even though the doorbellmay use as little as 10% of the available power, will now be describedwith reference to the circuit of FIG. 2.

The transformer 230 shown in FIG. 2 can convert 110 volts AC to 16 voltsRMS. In general, the functionality of transformer 230 differs from thatof a regulated power supply. When the transformer 230 is operating atfull power the voltage is about 20 volts peak (upper half of the ACwaveform) or, in root-mean-square (RMS) terms, 16 volts RMS. Since it isa transformer (e.g., an unregulated power source) and doorbells of thepresent disclosure draw less than the total power available, the typicalvoltage is approximately 30 volts peak or approximately 21 volts RMS.The transformer 230 and chime 210 may be external elements of thecircuit in FIG. 2, whereas the circuit elements of the video doorbell220 are inside the video doorbell.

The problem that causes the mechanical chime to hum is that the appliedAC input power can only flow current to the onboard power supply whenthe applied AC voltage is higher than the voltage stored in C1. Thecapacitor voltage on C1 stays at or near the peak applied AC voltage fora significant portion of the time. This creates a very short time thatit is able to charge C1. This charging current needs to supply theamount of power consumed by video doorbell. Since there is little timeto generate this charge current, a high peak current is created to equalthe average current required. This is based on the standard powerexpression of Power=Voltage*Current.

The video doorbell 220 mimics the mechanical switch when its button ispressed by shorting the two external wires together, which applies someor all of the power output to the mechanical chime 210, making the dingdong sound. When the doorbell 220 is not ringing, the circuit is notopen like the example switch circuit of the mechanical front doorbelldescribed above, but instead, doorbell 220 uses some amount of powerthat is lower than an amount of power required to ring the indoor chime210. The two states for voltage across the doorbell 220 is normaloperation where greater than 90 percent of the voltage corresponding tothe transformer output power is across the doorbell 220. For example, if20.5 Volts RMS is supplied from the transformer, the voltage across thedoorbell 220 will be about 20 Volts RMS.

The other operational state of doorbell 220 is where electronically, thedoorbell 220 shorts its two input wires to simulate a button press. Whenthis occurs, there may be little to no voltage across the doorbell 220.Normal operation of the doorbell 220 also includes powering on andbooting up, going offline, configuring of the doorbell 220 via anapplication on an example mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet,and being in an active operational state or being in an inactive, butalive, operational state. The impedance of the chime 210 or the chimebypass may be less than the video doorbell 220 so that under any stateother than ringing, most of the voltage from the output of transformer230 is applied across the doorbell 220.

Unlike mechanical chimes, electronic chimes do not allow for asufficient amount of current to flow through the chime toward thedoorbell 220. This limits or prevents a video doorbell from working inseries with the electronic chime and the transformer 230. Instead, theelectronic chime appears as a very high resistance such that all thevoltage is applied to the electronic chime, which results in no voltageand insufficient current to operate the video doorbell.

For the video doorbell to work, something else must be done to the wiredcircuit. In some implementations, to complete the circuit when there isan electronic chime, a bypass circuit (described below) may be utilized.The bypass circuit can be used to power down the electronic chime andthen wake up the chime with a signal that will ring it only when itneeds to be used. There are several examples of bypass circuits for theelectronic chime. In general, a bypass circuit bypasses the chime suchthat most of the power goes directly to the doorbell 220 (e.g., videodoorbell) without having to travel through the electronic chime 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example bypass board 300 that is configured toeliminate the hum of the chime 210. The bypass board 300 includes nodesA and B that are configured to connect in parallel to nodes A and B ofFIG. 2, respectively. By connecting in parallel, the bypass board 300presents a parallel non-zero impedance to the chime 210. The shortingstructure of the bypass board 300 may be a NC (Normally Closed) SPSTsolid state relay 310. When the NC SPST solid state relay 310 is closed,current flows in the parallel path to the chime 310.

The bypass board 300 includes a voltage detection circuit 320 that isconfigured to detect when the bypass board 300 should stop bypassing thechime 210 and allow the power to be applied to the chime 210. When thedoorbell wires are shorted together, this causes the AC voltage acrossthe chime 210 to increase, for example, from a peak of 1.5 volts to nearthe full transformer voltage, such as 16 volts RMS under full ringloading. The voltage detection circuit 320 detector outputs a DC voltageproportional to the peak AC input. A significant rise in the DC voltagefrom the detection circuit 320 is used to open the relay that removesthe bypass and applies all, or nearly all, the power to the chime 210.

The voltage detection circuit 320 may include a diode to create a higherDC voltage related to the higher voltage applied to the chime during adoorbell ring. The doorbell may use the higher voltage to create acurrent that opens the solid state relay 310 so that most of the poweris applied to the chime 210. In some implementations, a bypass circuitmay use an additional voltage detection method other than the doorbellshorting its input wires.

In more detail, the wires that connect the bypass board 300 to the chime210 may connect to a voltage detector that uses a bridge diode that isconnected to the control of the solid state relay 310. The voltage outof the detector may be applied to a resistor. After some filtering, thevoltage may be used as a control input to the solid state relay 310.

The bypass board 300 may include a resistor in series with the relaywhen closed. This may cause the chime 210 to not be completely shorted,which allows current to flow through the chime 210, still causing fainthum.

In some instances, the doorbell received up to ninety percent of thevoltage from the transformer. This is because the chime 210 is abouteight ohms and the doorbell is about 1.6 watts. With a high poweredvideo doorbell 220 of 5 to 10 watts, the impedance of the video doorbell220 will be lower compared to the chime 210, and the video doorbell 220,this ninety percent may no longer be the case such that a higher voltageappears at the chime bypass so that the overall impedance of the bypassboard 300 must be lowered. In some instances, the circuit 200 does notsend AC through the chime 210, just DC. In some instances, the circuit200 does not ruin it with DC by, for example, magnetizing the coilbecause it is only at a moment in time.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example current measurement of current through aresistive load while the dehumming circuit 720 (described below) isconnected. When ringing the chime, this resistance path is turned offand the path of current flowing through the chime is turned on. FIG. 4Billustrates an example current measurement of current through the chimewhile the dehumming circuit 720 is connected. FIG. 4C illustrates anexample current measurement of the combined current from FIGS. 4A and4B. FIG. 5 may illustrate similar measurements as FIG. 4C.

In some instances, the chime may not receive power for a short period oftime, for example hundreds of milliseconds. This small amount of timemeans that passing DC power through the chime has virtually no effect onthe chime.

FIG. 6 illustrates example voltage and current measurements of thedoorbell circuit in FIG. 2. Trace 610 is a ring control signal wherehigh is a ring. Trace 620 is the current that flows around the doorbellloop circuit that is the same as the current that flows through node Ato node B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7A illustrates example voltage and current measurements of thedoorbell circuit in FIG. 7B or 7C. Trace 715 is a ring control signalwhere high is a ring. Trace 725 is the current that flows through theresistor R_Load in FIG. 3, which is almost zero during a ring. FIG. 7Arepresents a similar measurement as FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 7B and 7C illustrate an example doorbell circuit 720, 740,respectively. Each of the doorbell circuits 720, 740 includes a videodoorbell, a transformer 230, and a respective dehumming circuit 720,740. In some implementations, the circuits 720, 740, can include aresistor value that represents the resistance of the wiring at aresidence, home, or property that includes the doorbell.

Each of the dehumming circuits 720, 740 has two functions. When signaledby the doorbell to ring by the doorbell shorting its wires, the each ofthe dehumming circuits 720, 740 are configured to apply all, or nearlyall, of the available transformer voltage and current to the chime. Whennot ringing, each of the dehumming circuits 720, 740 completes thecircuit with low impedance so that most of the transformer power isapplied to the doorbell. Each of the dehumming circuits 720, 740 isconfigured to pass the current and voltage intended to be applied to thechime through a rectifier to create a DC voltage and current. Thedehumming circuit 720 creates a SPDT switch (e.g., Q1) that, when in oneposition, runs the power through a small resistance during typicaloperation.

FIG. 8 illustrates example voltage and current measurements of thedoorbell circuit in FIG. 7B or 7C. Trace 810 is the current that flowsthrough the chime. Current may only flow through the chime during aring. Current through the chime is near zero when not ringing. FIG. 8represents a similar measurement as FIG. 4B.

Referring again to FIG. 7B, the example circuit 720 operates similarlyas the example circuit 740 of FIG. 7C. Q1 may operate the same in thatit turns on when a ringing voltage is applied and the chime currentpasses through it. The difference is instead of using a low voltage toturn on the transistor that passes current through R-Load, a set oftransistors Q3 and Q4 turn on based upon small current available from avery low voltage associated with transistor, Q1. The two transistors Q3and Q4, unlike where Q2 did not require any current, the bipolartransistors Q3 and Q4 do require current. Two transistors amplify thecurrent so only a small amount of current is required to activate thefirst transistor Q1 when it is not ringing.

In some implementations, the circuit illustrated in FIG. 7B includes adifferentiator circuit 706 that is coupled to a voltage divider circuit708. The circuit also includes switch control circuitry 710, which isdescribed in detail below.

The differentiator circuit 706 cooperates with the voltage dividercircuit 708 to accelerate turning off the transistor switch Q1 in theabsence of an applied voltage to the chime. In some implementations, thedifferentiator circuit 706 assists or supplements the voltage dividercircuit 708 to increase the rate at which Q1 turns off when the doorbellis not ringing in the chime. In some other implementations, thedifferentiator ensures that Q1 turns OFF in the absence of an appliedvoltage to the chime. In one instance, the differentiator circuit 706increases the response time of the dehum circuit 720, 740 byaccelerating the time it takes for Q1 turn ON, whereas in anotherinstance the differentiator circuit 706 increases the response time ofthe dehum circuit 720, 740, by accelerating the time it takes for Q1turn OFF.

The voltage divider circuit 710 is coupled to the rectifier circuit andthe switch Q1. In some cases, the voltage divider circuit 710 isgenerally intermediate the rectifier circuit and the switch Q1. Therectifier circuit is formed based on the diodes D6, D7, D8, and D9. Thevoltage divider 710 is configured to generate a voltage that isproportional to the signal generated by the rectifier circuit. Thevoltage divider circuit 710 can generate this voltage signal byadjusting a magnitude of the voltage signal generated by the rectifiercircuit. In some implementations, the voltage divider circuit 710generates an adjusted voltage signal that is proportional to the signalgenerated by the rectifier circuit by adjusting a magnitude of thesignal output by the rectifier circuit.

The switch control circuitry 710 includes the transistor switches Q3 andQ4. The control function of the switch control circuit 710 can be basedon Q3 being coupled to the transistor switch Q1. In this implementation,the transistor switch Q3 is a current amplifier that generates a controlsignal to cause the transistor Q4 to turn on and provide a DC voltagesignal used to power the vide doorbell 220. Transistor Q1 can beconfigured as a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch that is used toswitch between at least two signal paths of the circuit 720.

For example, the circuit 720 (or 740) can includes a first signal paththat corresponds to a first operating mode, where the video doorbelldoes not ring the chime, and transistor switch Q4 routes power signalsof the power source using the first signal path to apply available powerof the power source to the video doorbell. The circuit 720 (or 740) alsoincludes a second, different signal path that corresponds to a secondoperating mode, where the video doorbell rings the chime, and thetransistor switch Q1 uses the second signal path to route power signalsof the power source and apply available power of the power source to thechime.

The power is applied to ring the chime so the chime outputs or generatesan audio sound during the second operating mode, such as when a personpushes a doorbell button on the video doorbell. In some implementations,the available power of the power source that is applied is all of thepower that is output by the power source.

In some implementations, circuit 720 is configured such that: a)transistor switch Q4 is a current-controlled bipolar junction transistor(BJT) that generates a base-emitter voltage from signals generated bythe rectifier circuit and based on a current signal generated bytransistor switch Q3; b) transistor switch Q1 is a voltage-controlledfield effect transistor (FET) that generates a gate-to-source voltageproportional to a voltage signal generated by the rectifier circuit; andc) transistor switch Q3 is a current-controlled BJT that generates itscurrent signal based on a threshold amount of current that flows along acircuit path that couples transistor switch Q3 to transistor switch Q3.

Based on transistor Q1, the circuit 720 (or 740) can be configured togenerate a DC voltage signal for a threshold time period to supply powerto the chime without generating a current that induces magnetic effectsin the chime, such as magnet effects that can disrupt operation of thechime. The threshold time period can be less than 200 milliseconds orbetween 200 and 500 milliseconds. Other threshold time periods may alsobe used. In some implementations, the transistor switch Q1 is afield-effect transistor that includes a gate, a drain, and a source anda voltage at the gate of transistor Q1 is used to control when a currentsignal is routed through the chime 210 to generate the audio. Thiscurrent signal corresponds to an output power of the power source ortransformer.

The chime 210 can play, generate, or otherwise provide audio based ondifferent operations. For example, the chime 210 outputs audio inresponse to a button on the video doorbell 220 being pressed by anindividual. The video doorbell 220 may include or be configured toaccess an object detector, such as machine-learning (ML) model or MLbased object detector. For example, the object detector can be a trainedneural network model (e.g., a convolutional neural network) that detectsobjects or items in an image in response to processing the imagesthrough layers of the neural network.

The chime 210 may output audio in response to detection of an entitybased on the object detector of the video doorbell that detects theentity as an object in an image frame captured by the video doorbell. Insome implementations, detection of an entity, e.g., by a pressing of thebutton on the video doorbell 220 or recognition of an object, isrepresented as a parameter signal input to the video doorbell 220 thattriggers actuation of the chime in response to detection of an entity.In some other implementations, the chime 210 outputs audio in responseto detection of an individual based on: a proximity sensor of the videodoorbell 220 that detects individuals within a threshold proximity ofthe property where the video doorbell is installed; or a motion sensorof the video doorbell 220 that detects motion within a thresholddistance of the video doorbell.

FIG. 9 illustrates example voltage and current measurements of thedoorbell circuit in FIG. 7C. Trace 910 is the current that flows throughwiring, which is also the current that flows through the system, such asfrom nodes A to B. Trace 920 is the voltage across the gate and sourceof transistor Q1, which is about two volts. This voltage may be achievedby using the resistance of the chime to pull the gate of transistor Q1to the voltage of the AC to DC bridge diodes. The impedance of the chimein FIG. 7C is about eight ohms, but since no current flows the voltagedrop across it is zero. The gate of the transistor Q2 sees the full ACto DC bridge diode output voltage. Q2 is a transistor picked that turnson with a very low voltage applied to its gate. No current may flow intothe gate of transistor Q2 so no current may flow through the chime whenit is not being rung. The gate of Q1 has the same AC to DC bridge diodeDC voltage applied to it but after a voltage divider circuit and somefiltering. The voltage divider means that the voltage of AC to DC bridgemay become higher in order for Q1 to turn on and allow current to flowthrough the chime. When the chime is rung, which is signified by thedoorbell shorting its wires, this causes almost all of the transformervoltage to be applied to the dehumming board. This corresponding rise inthe DC voltage from the bridge diode after being divided creates a largeenough voltage on Q2's gate for it to turn on. Q2 grounds its drainwhich is attached to the chime and to Q2. Ground or zero volts passesall the current through the chime while turning off Q2 so that Q2 can nolonger pass any current through it and R_Load.

FIG. 10 illustrates example voltage and current measurements ofsimulated doorbell circuits that function in similar manner as thecircuits of FIG. 7B or 7C. Trace 1010 is the voltage on the gate offirst transistor (that couples to the chime) when current flows throughthe chime. The first transistor (e.g., a FET) may be a power transistorthat requires a higher gate-source to turn on than a second, differenttransistor (e.g., another FET) of the simulation circuit. A detector DCvoltage of the simulation circuit may be divided before being applied tothe gate of the first transistor, which also increases the threshold ofthe detector voltage, which should be reached before the firsttransistor turns on to ring the chime. When the first transistor turnson, it forces the gate of transistor second transistor to ground, whichturns off the second transistor. In some implementations, the first andsecond transistor of the simulation circuit correspond respectively tothe transistors Q1 and Q2 of circuit 740.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example voltage and current measurements ofthe simulated doorbell circuits. Trace 1110 is the current through thefirst transistor and the chime 210 in response to a ringing voltagebeing applied and the second transistor turning on.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home monitoring system1200. The monitoring system 1200 includes a network 1205, a control unit1210, one or more user devices 1240 and 1250, a monitoring server 1260,and a central alarm station server 1270. In some examples, the network1205 facilitates communications between the control unit 1210, the oneor more user devices 1240 and 1250, the monitoring server 1260, and thecentral alarm station server 1270.

The network 1205 is configured to enable exchange of electroniccommunications between devices connected to the network 1205. Forexample, the network 1205 may be configured to enable exchange ofelectronic communications between the control unit 1210, the one or moreuser devices 1240 and 1250, the monitoring server 1260, and the centralalarm station server 1270. The network 1205 may include, for example,one or more of the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local AreaNetworks (LANs), analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks(e.g., a public switched telephone network (PSTN), Integrated ServicesDigital Network (ISDN), a cellular network, and Digital Subscriber Line(DSL)), radio, television, cable, satellite, or any other delivery ortunneling mechanism for carrying data. Network 1205 may include multiplenetworks or subnetworks, each of which may include, for example, a wiredor wireless data pathway. The network 1205 may include acircuit-switched network, a packet-switched data network, or any othernetwork able to carry electronic communications (e.g., data or voicecommunications). For example, the network 1205 may include networksbased on the Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM),the PSTN, packet-switched networks based on IP, X.25, or Frame Relay, orother comparable technologies and may support voice using, for example,VoIP, or other comparable protocols used for voice communications. Thenetwork 1205 may include one or more networks that include wireless datachannels and wireless voice channels. The network 1205 may be a wirelessnetwork, a broadband network, or a combination of networks including awireless network and a broadband network.

The control unit 1210 includes a controller 1212 and a network module1214. The controller 1212 is configured to control a control unitmonitoring system (e.g., a control unit system) that includes thecontrol unit 1210. In some examples, the controller 1212 may include aprocessor or other control circuitry configured to execute instructionsof a program that controls operation of a control unit system. In theseexamples, the controller 1212 may be configured to receive input fromsensors, flow meters, or other devices included in the control unitsystem and control operations of devices included in the household(e.g., speakers, lights, doors, etc.). For example, the controller 1212may be configured to control operation of the network module 1214included in the control unit 1210.

The network module 1214 is a communication device configured to exchangecommunications over the network 1205. The network module 1214 may be awireless communication module configured to exchange wirelesscommunications over the network 1205. For example, the network module1214 may be a wireless communication device configured to exchangecommunications over a wireless data channel and a wireless voicechannel. In this example, the network module 1214 may transmit alarmdata over a wireless data channel and establish a two-way voicecommunication session over a wireless voice channel. The wirelesscommunication device may include one or more of a LTE module, a GSMmodule, a radio modem, cellular transmission module, or any type ofmodule configured to exchange communications in one of the followingformats: LTE, GSM or GPRS, 5G CDMA, EDGE or EGPRS, EV-DO or EVDO, UMTS,or IP.

The network module 1214 also may be a wired communication moduleconfigured to exchange communications over the network 1205 using awired connection. For instance, the network module 1214 may be a modem,a network interface card, or another type of network interface device.The network module 1214 may be an Ethernet network card configured toenable the control unit 1210 to communicate over a local area networkand/or the Internet. The network module 1214 also may be a voice bandmodem configured to enable the alarm panel to communicate over thetelephone lines of Plain Old Telephone Systems (POTS).

The control unit system that includes the control unit 1210 includes oneor more sensors. For example, the monitoring system may include multiplesensors 1220. The sensors 1220 may include a lock sensor, a contactsensor, a motion sensor, or any other type of sensor included in acontrol unit system. The sensors 1220 also may include an environmentalsensor, such as a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a rain sensor, awind sensor, a light sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxidedetector, an air quality sensor, etc. The sensors 1220 further mayinclude a health monitoring sensor, such as a prescription bottle sensorthat monitors taking of prescriptions, a blood pressure sensor, a bloodsugar sensor, a bed mat configured to sense presence of liquid (e.g.,bodily fluids) on the bed mat, etc. In some examples, thehealth-monitoring sensor can be a wearable sensor that attaches to auser in the home. The health-monitoring sensor can collect varioushealth data, including pulse, heart rate, respiration rate, sugar orglucose level, bodily temperature, or motion data.

The sensors 1220 can also include a radio-frequency identification(RFID) sensor that identifies a particular article that includes apre-assigned RFID tag.

The control unit 1210 communicates with the home automation controls1222 and a camera 1230 to perform monitoring. The home automationcontrols 1222 are connected to one or more devices that enableautomation of actions in the home. For instance, the home automationcontrols 1222 may be connected to one or more lighting systems and maybe configured to control operation of the one or more lighting systems.In addition, the home automation controls 1222 may be connected to oneor more electronic locks at the home and may be configured to controloperation of the one or more electronic locks (e.g., control Z-Wavelocks using wireless communications in the Z-Wave protocol). Further,the home automation controls 1222 may be connected to one or moreappliances at the home and may be configured to control operation of theone or more appliances. The home automation controls 1222 may includemultiple modules that are each specific to the type of device beingcontrolled in an automated manner. The home automation controls 1222 maycontrol the one or more devices based on commands received from thecontrol unit 1210. For instance, the home automation controls 1222 maycause a lighting system to illuminate an area to provide a better imageof the area when captured by a camera 1230.

The camera 1230 may be a video/photographic camera or other type ofoptical sensing device configured to capture images. For instance, thecamera 1230 may be configured to capture images of an area within abuilding or home monitored by the control unit 1210. The camera 1230 maybe configured to capture single, static images of the area and alsovideo images of the area in which multiple images of the area arecaptured at a relatively high frequency (e.g., thirty images persecond). The camera 1230 may be controlled based on commands receivedfrom the control unit 1210.

The camera 1230 may be triggered by several different types oftechniques. For instance, a Passive Infra-Red (PIR) motion sensor may bebuilt into the camera 1230 and used to trigger the camera 1230 tocapture one or more images when motion is detected. The camera 1230 alsomay include a microwave motion sensor built into the camera and used totrigger the camera 1230 to capture one or more images when motion isdetected. The camera 1230 may have a “normally open” or “normallyclosed” digital input that can trigger capture of one or more imageswhen external sensors (e.g., the sensors 1220, PIR, door/window, etc.)detect motion or other events. In some implementations, the camera 1230receives a command to capture an image when external devices detectmotion or another potential alarm event. The camera 1230 may receive thecommand from the controller 1212 or directly from one of the sensors1220.

In some examples, the camera 1230 triggers integrated or externalilluminators (e.g., Infra-Red, Z-wave controlled “white” lights, lightscontrolled by the home automation controls 1222, etc.) to improve imagequality when the scene is dark. An integrated or separate light sensormay be used to determine if illumination is desired and may result inincreased image quality.

The camera 1230 may be programmed with any combination of time/dayschedules, system “arming state”, or other variables to determinewhether images should be captured or not when triggers occur. The camera1230 may enter a low-power mode when not capturing images. In this case,the camera 1230 may wake periodically to check for inbound messages fromthe controller 1212. The camera 1230 may be powered by internal,replaceable batteries if located remotely from the control unit 1210.The camera 1230 may employ a small solar cell to recharge the batterywhen light is available. Alternatively, the camera 1230 may be poweredby the controller's 1212 power supply if the camera 1230 is co-locatedwith the controller 1212.

In some implementations, the camera 1230 communicates directly with themonitoring server 1260 over the Internet. In these implementations,image data captured by the camera 1230 does not pass through the controlunit 1210 and the camera 1230 receives commands related to operationfrom the monitoring server 1260.

The system 1200 may also include a thermostat 1234 to perform dynamicenvironmental control at the home. The thermostat 1234 is configured tomonitor temperature and/or energy consumption of an HVAC systemassociated with the thermostat 1234, and is further configured toprovide control of environmental (e.g., temperature) settings. In someimplementations, the thermostat 1234 can additionally or alternativelyreceive data relating to activity at a home and/or environmental data ata home, e.g., at various locations indoors and outdoors at the home. Thethermostat 1234 can directly measure energy consumption of the HVACsystem associated with the thermostat, or can estimate energyconsumption of the HVAC system associated with the thermostat 1234, forexample, based on detected usage of one or more components of the HVACsystem associated with the thermostat 1234. The thermostat 1234 cancommunicate temperature and/or energy monitoring information to or fromthe control unit 1210 and can control the environmental (e.g.,temperature) settings based on commands received from the control unit1210.

In some implementations, the thermostat 1234 is a dynamicallyprogrammable thermostat and can be integrated with the control unit1210. For example, the dynamically programmable thermostat 1234 caninclude the control unit 1210, e.g., as an internal component to thedynamically programmable thermostat 1234. In addition, the control unit1210 can be a gateway device that communicates with the dynamicallyprogrammable thermostat 1234. In some implementations, the thermostat1234 is controlled via one or more home automation controls 1222.

A module 1237 is connected to one or more components of an HVAC systemassociated with a home, and is configured to control operation of theone or more components of the HVAC system. In some implementations, themodule 1237 is also configured to monitor energy consumption of the HVACsystem components, for example, by directly measuring the energyconsumption of the HVAC system components or by estimating the energyusage of the one or more HVAC system components based on detecting usageof components of the HVAC system. The module 1237 can communicate energymonitoring information and the state of the HVAC system components tothe thermostat 1234 and can control the one or more components of theHVAC system based on commands received from the thermostat 1234.

In some examples, the system 1200 further includes one or more roboticdevices 1290. The robotic devices 1290 may be any type of robots thatare capable of moving and taking actions that assist in home monitoring.For example, the robotic devices 1290 may include drones that arecapable of moving throughout a home based on automated controltechnology and/or user input control provided by a user. In thisexample, the drones may be able to fly, roll, walk, or otherwise moveabout the home. The drones may include helicopter type devices (e.g.,quad copters), rolling helicopter type devices (e.g., roller copterdevices that can fly and roll along the ground, walls, or ceiling) andland vehicle type devices (e.g., automated cars that drive around ahome). In some cases, the robotic devices 1290 may be devices that areintended for other purposes and merely associated with the system 1200for use in appropriate circumstances. For instance, a robotic vacuumcleaner device may be associated with the monitoring system 1200 as oneof the robotic devices 1290 and may be controlled to take actionresponsive to monitoring system events.

In some examples, the robotic devices 1290 automatically navigate withina home or outside a home. In these examples, the robotic devices 1290include sensors and control processors that guide movement of therobotic devices 1290 within the home or outside the home. For instance,the robotic devices 1290 may navigate within the home using one or morecameras, one or more proximity sensors, one or more gyroscopes, one ormore accelerometers, one or more magnetometers, a global positioningsystem (GPS) unit, an altimeter, one or more sonar or laser sensors,and/or any other types of sensors that aid in navigation about a space.The robotic devices 1290 may include control processors that processoutput from the various sensors and control the robotic devices 1290 tomove along a path that reaches the desired destination and avoidsobstacles. In this regard, the control processors detect walls or otherobstacles in the home or outside the home and guide movement of therobotic devices 1290 in a manner that avoids the walls, trees, fences,and other obstacles.

In addition, the robotic devices 1290 may store data that describesattributes of the home and the area outside the home. For instance, therobotic devices 1290 may store a floorplan, a property map, and/or athree-dimensional model of the home that enables the robotic devices1290 to navigate the home. During initial configuration, the roboticdevices 1290 may receive the data describing attributes of the home,determine a frame of reference to the data (e.g., a home or referencelocation in the home), and navigate the home based on the frame ofreference and the data describing attributes of the home. Further,initial configuration of the robotic devices 1290 also may includelearning of one or more navigation patterns in which a user providesinput to control the robotic devices 1290 to perform a specificnavigation action (e.g., fly to an upstairs bedroom and spin aroundwhile capturing video and then return to a home charging base). In thisregard, the robotic devices 1290 may learn and store the navigationpatterns such that the robotic devices 1290 may automatically repeat thespecific navigation actions upon a later request.

In some examples, the robotic devices 1290 may include data capture andrecording devices. In these examples, the robotic devices 1290 mayinclude one or more cameras, one or more motion sensors, one or moremicrophones, one or more biometric data collection tools, one or moretemperature sensors, one or more humidity sensors, one or more air flowsensors, and/or any other types of sensors that may be useful incapturing monitoring data related to the home and users in the home. Theone or more biometric data collection tools may be configured to collectbiometric samples of a person in the home with or without contact of theperson. For instance, the biometric data collection tools may include afingerprint scanner, a hair sample collection tool, a skin cellcollection tool, and/or any other tool that allows the robotic devices1290 to take and store a biometric sample that can be used to identifythe person (e.g., a biometric sample with DNA that can be used for DNAtesting).

In some implementations, the robotic devices 1290 may include outputdevices. In these implementations, the robotic devices 1290 may includeone or more displays, one or more speakers, and/or any type of outputdevices that allow the robotic devices 1290 to communicate informationto a nearby user.

The robotic devices 1290 also may include a communication module thatenables the robotic devices 1290 to communicate with the control unit1210, each other, and/or other devices. The communication module may bea wireless communication module that allows the robotic devices 1290 tocommunicate wirelessly. For instance, the communication module may be aWi-Fi module that enables the robotic devices 1290 to communicate over alocal wireless network at the home. The communication module further maybe a 900 MHz wireless communication module that enables the roboticdevices 1290 to communicate directly with the control unit 1210. Othertypes of short-range wireless communication protocols, such asBluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Z-wave, Zigbee, etc., may be used to allow therobotic devices 1290 to communicate with other devices in the home. Insome implementations, the robotic devices 1290 may communicate with eachother or with other devices of the system 1200 through the network 1205.

The robotic devices 1290 further may include processor and storagecapabilities. The robotic devices 1290 may include any suitableprocessing devices that enable the robotic devices 1290 to operateapplications and perform the actions described throughout thisdisclosure. In addition, the robotic devices 1290 may includesolid-state electronic storage that enables the robotic devices 1290 tostore applications, configuration data, collected sensor data, and/orany other type of information available to the robotic devices 1290.

The robotic devices 1290 are associated with one or more chargingstations. The charging stations may be located at predefined home baseor reference locations in the home. The robotic devices 1290 may beconfigured to navigate to the charging stations after completion oftasks needed to be performed for the monitoring system 1200. Forinstance, after completion of a monitoring operation or upon instructionby the control unit 1210, the robotic devices 1290 may be configured toautomatically fly to and land on one of the charging stations. In thisregard, the robotic devices 1290 may automatically maintain a fullycharged battery in a state in which the robotic devices 1290 are readyfor use by the monitoring system 1200.

The charging stations may be contact based charging stations and/orwireless charging stations. For contact based charging stations, therobotic devices 1290 may have readily accessible points of contact thatthe robotic devices 1290 are capable of positioning and mating with acorresponding contact on the charging station. For instance, ahelicopter type robotic device may have an electronic contact on aportion of its landing gear that rests on and mates with an electronicpad of a charging station when the helicopter type robotic device landson the charging station. The electronic contact on the robotic devicemay include a cover that opens to expose the electronic contact when therobotic device is charging and closes to cover and insulate theelectronic contact when the robotic device is in operation.

For wireless charging stations, the robotic devices 1290 may chargethrough a wireless exchange of power. In these cases, the roboticdevices 1290 need only locate themselves closely enough to the wirelesscharging stations for the wireless exchange of power to occur. In thisregard, the positioning needed to land at a predefined home base orreference location in the home may be less precise than with a contactbased charging station. Based on the robotic devices 1290 landing at awireless charging station, the wireless charging station outputs awireless signal that the robotic devices 1290 receive and convert to apower signal that charges a battery maintained on the robotic devices1290.

In some implementations, each of the robotic devices 1290 has acorresponding and assigned charging station such that the number ofrobotic devices 1290 equals the number of charging stations. In theseimplementations, the robotic devices 1290 always navigate to thespecific charging station assigned to that robotic device. For instance,a first robotic device may always use a first charging station and asecond robotic device may always use a second charging station.

In some examples, the robotic devices 1290 may share charging stations.For instance, the robotic devices 1290 may use one or more communitycharging stations that are capable of charging multiple robotic devices1290. The community charging station may be configured to chargemultiple robotic devices 1290 in parallel. The community chargingstation may be configured to charge multiple robotic devices 1290 inserial such that the multiple robotic devices 1290 take turns chargingand, when fully charged, return to a predefined home base or referencelocation in the home that is not associated with a charger. The numberof community charging stations may be less than the number of roboticdevices 1290.

In addition, the charging stations may not be assigned to specificrobotic devices 1290 and may be capable of charging any of the roboticdevices 1290. In this regard, the robotic devices 1290 may use anysuitable, unoccupied charging station when not in use. For instance,when one of the robotic devices 1290 has completed an operation or is inneed of battery charge, the control unit 1210 references a stored tableof the occupancy status of each charging station and instructs therobotic device to navigate to the nearest charging station that isunoccupied.

The system 1200 further includes one or more integrated security devices1280. The one or more integrated security devices may include any typeof device used to provide alerts based on received sensor data. Forinstance, the one or more control units 1210 may provide one or morealerts to the one or more integrated security input/output devices 1280.Additionally, the one or more control units 1210 may receive one or moresensor data from the sensors 1220 and determine whether to provide analert to the one or more integrated security input/output devices 1280.

The sensors 1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230,the thermostat 1234, and the integrated security devices 1280 maycommunicate with the controller 1212 over communication links 1224,1226, 1228, 1232, 1238, and 1284. The communication links 1224, 1226,1228, 1232, 1238, and 1284 may be a wired or wireless data pathwayconfigured to transmit signals from the sensors 1220, the homeautomation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, and theintegrated security devices 1280 to the controller 1212. The sensors1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat1234, and the integrated security devices 1280 may continuously transmitsensed values to the controller 1212, periodically transmit sensedvalues to the controller 1212, or transmit sensed values to thecontroller 1212 in response to a change in a sensed value.

The communication links 1224, 1226, 1228, 1232, 1238, and 1284 mayinclude a local network. The sensors 1220, the home automation controls1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, and the integrated securitydevices 1280, and the controller 1212 may exchange data and commandsover the local network. The local network may include 802.11 “Wi-Fi”wireless Ethernet (e.g., using low-power Wi-Fi chipsets), Z-Wave,Zigbee, Bluetooth, “Homeplug” or other “Powerline” networks that operateover AC wiring, and a Category 12 (CATS) or Category 6 (CAT6) wiredEthernet network. The local network may be a mesh network constructedbased on the devices connected to the mesh network.

The monitoring server 1260 is an electronic device configured to providemonitoring services by exchanging electronic communications with thecontrol unit 1210, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250, and thecentral alarm station server 1270 over the network 1205. For example,the monitoring server 1260 may be configured to monitor events generatedby the control unit 1210. In this example, the monitoring server 1260may exchange electronic communications with the network module 1214included in the control unit 1210 to receive information regardingevents detected by the control unit 1210. The monitoring server 1260also may receive information regarding events from the one or more userdevices 1240 and 1250.

In some examples, the monitoring server 1260 may route alert datareceived from the network module 1214 or the one or more user devices1240 and 1250 to the central alarm station server 1270. For example, themonitoring server 1260 may transmit the alert data to the central alarmstation server 1270 over the network 1205.

The monitoring server 1260 may store sensor and image data received fromthe monitoring system and perform analysis of sensor and image datareceived from the monitoring system. Based on the analysis, themonitoring server 1260 may communicate with and control aspects of thecontrol unit 1210 or the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250.

The monitoring server 1260 may provide various monitoring services tothe system 1200. For example, the monitoring server 1260 may analyze thesensor, image, and other data to determine an activity pattern of aresident of the home monitored by the system 1200. In someimplementations, the monitoring server 1260 may analyze the data foralarm conditions or may determine and perform actions at the home byissuing commands to one or more of the controls 1222, possibly throughthe control unit 1210.

The monitoring server 1260 can be configured to provide information(e.g., activity patterns) related to one or more residents of the homemonitored by the system 1200 (e.g., user 108). For example, one or moreof the sensors 1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230,the thermostat 1234, and the integrated security devices 1280 cancollect data related to a resident including location information (e.g.,if the resident is home or is not home) and provide location informationto the thermostat 1234.

The central alarm station server 1270 is an electronic device configuredto provide alarm monitoring service by exchanging communications withthe control unit 1210, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250, andthe monitoring server 1260 over the network 1205. For example, thecentral alarm station server 1270 may be configured to monitor alertingevents generated by the control unit 1210. In this example, the centralalarm station server 1270 may exchange communications with the networkmodule 1214 included in the control unit 1210 to receive informationregarding alerting events detected by the control unit 1210. The centralalarm station server 1270 also may receive information regardingalerting events from the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 and/orthe monitoring server 1260.

The central alarm station server 1270 is connected to multiple terminals1272 and 1274. The terminals 1272 and 1274 may be used by operators toprocess alerting events. For example, the central alarm station server1270 may route alerting data to the terminals 1272 and 1274 to enable anoperator to process the alerting data. The terminals 1272 and 1274 mayinclude general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop personal computers,workstations, or laptop computers) that are configured to receivealerting data from a server in the central alarm station server 1270 andrender a display of information based on the alerting data. Forinstance, the controller 1212 may control the network module 1214 totransmit, to the central alarm station server 1270, alerting dataindicating that a sensor 1220 detected motion from a motion sensor viathe sensors 1220. The central alarm station server 1270 may receive thealerting data and route the alerting data to the terminal 1272 forprocessing by an operator associated with the terminal 1272. Theterminal 1272 may render a display to the operator that includesinformation associated with the alerting event (e.g., the lock sensordata, the motion sensor data, the contact sensor data, etc.) and theoperator may handle the alerting event based on the displayedinformation.

In some implementations, the terminals 1272 and 1274 may be mobiledevices or devices designed for a specific function. Although FIG. 12illustrates two terminals for brevity, actual implementations mayinclude more (and, perhaps, many more) terminals.

The one or more authorized user devices 1240 and 1250 are devices thathost and display user interfaces. For instance, the user device 1240 isa mobile device that hosts or runs one or more native applications(e.g., the home monitoring application 1242). The user device 1240 maybe a cellular phone or a non-cellular locally networked device with adisplay. The user device 1240 may include a cell phone, a smart phone, atablet PC, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), or any other portabledevice configured to communicate over a network and display information.For example, implementations may also include Blackberry-type devices(e.g., as provided by Research in Motion), electronic organizers,iPhone-type devices (e.g., as provided by Apple), iPod devices (e.g., asprovided by Apple) or other portable music players, other communicationdevices, and handheld or portable electronic devices for gaming,communications, and/or data organization. The user device 1240 mayperform functions unrelated to the monitoring system, such as placingpersonal telephone calls, playing music, playing video, displayingpictures, browsing the Internet, maintaining an electronic calendar,etc.

The user device 1240 includes a home monitoring application 1252. Thehome monitoring application 1242 refers to a software/firmware programrunning on the corresponding mobile device that enables the userinterface and features described throughout. The user device 1240 mayload or install the home monitoring application 1242 based on datareceived over a network or data received from local media. The homemonitoring application 1242 runs on mobile devices platforms, such asiPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, Google Android, Windows Mobile, etc. Thehome monitoring application 1242 enables the user device 1240 to receiveand process image and sensor data from the monitoring system.

The user device 1240 may be a general-purpose computer (e.g., a desktoppersonal computer, a workstation, or a laptop computer) that isconfigured to communicate with the monitoring server 1260 and/or thecontrol unit 1210 over the network 1205. The user device 1240 may beconfigured to display a smart home user interface 1252 that is generatedby the user device 1240 or generated by the monitoring server 1260. Forexample, the user device 1240 may be configured to display a userinterface (e.g., a web page) provided by the monitoring server 1260 thatenables a user to perceive images captured by the camera 1230 and/orreports related to the monitoring system. Although FIG. 12 illustratestwo user devices for brevity, actual implementations may include more(and, perhaps, many more) or fewer user devices.

In some implementations, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250communicate with and receive monitoring system data from the controlunit 1210 using the communication link 1238. For instance, the one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250 may communicate with the control unit1210 using various local wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,Z-wave, Zigbee, MoCA, HomePlug (ethernet over power line), or wiredprotocols such as Ethernet and USB, to connect the one or more userdevices 1240 and 1250 to local security and automation equipment. Theone or more user devices 1240 and 1250 may connect locally to themonitoring system and its sensors and other devices. The localconnection may improve the speed of status and control communicationsbecause communicating through the network 1205 with a remote server(e.g., the monitoring server 1260) may be significantly slower.

Although the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 are shown ascommunicating with the control unit 1210, the one or more user devices1240 and 1250 may communicate directly with the sensors and otherdevices controlled by the control unit 1210. In some implementations,the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 replace the control unit 1210and perform the functions of the control unit 1210 for local monitoringand long range/offsite communication.

In other implementations, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250receive monitoring system data captured by the control unit 1210 throughthe network 1205. The one or more user devices 1240, 1250 may receivethe data from the control unit 1210 through the network 1205 or themonitoring server 1260 may relay data received from the control unit1210 to the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 through the network1205. In this regard, the monitoring server 1260 may facilitatecommunication between the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 and themonitoring system.

In some implementations, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 maybe configured to switch whether the one or more user devices 1240 and1250 communicate with the control unit 1210 directly (e.g., through link1238) or through the monitoring server 1260 (e.g., through network 1205)based on a location of the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250. Forinstance, when the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 are locatedclose to the control unit 1210 and in range to communicate directly withthe control unit 1210, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 usedirect communication. When the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250are located far from the control unit 1210 and not in range tocommunicate directly with the control unit 1210, the one or more userdevices 1240 and 1250 use communication through the monitoring server1260.

Although the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 are shown as beingconnected to the network 1205, in some implementations, the one or moreuser devices 1240 and 1250 are not connected to the network 1205. Inthese implementations, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250communicate directly with one or more of the monitoring systemcomponents and no network (e.g., Internet) connection or reliance onremote servers is needed.

In some implementations, the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 areused in conjunction with only local sensors and/or local devices in ahouse. In these implementations, the system 1200 includes the one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250, the sensors 1220, the home automationcontrols 1222, the camera 1230, and the robotic devices 1290. The one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250 receive data directly from the sensors1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, and therobotic devices 1290, and sends data directly to the sensors 1220, thehome automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, and the robotic devices1290. The one or more user devices 1240, 1250 provide the appropriateinterfaces/processing to provide visual surveillance and reporting.

In other implementations, the system 1200 further includes network 1205and the sensors 1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera1230, the thermostat 1234, and the robotic devices 1290, and areconfigured to communicate sensor and image data to the one or more userdevices 1240 and 1250 over network 1205 (e.g., the Internet, cellularnetwork, etc.). In yet another implementation, the sensors 1220, thehome automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, andthe robotic devices 1290 (or a component, such as a bridge/router) areintelligent enough to change the communication pathway from a directlocal pathway when the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 are inclose physical proximity to the sensors 1220, the home automationcontrols 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, and the roboticdevices 1290 to a pathway over network 1205 when the one or more userdevices 1240 and 1250 are farther from the sensors 1220, the homeautomation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, and therobotic devices 1290.

In some examples, the system leverages GPS information from the one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250 to determine whether the one or moreuser devices 1240 and 1250 are close enough to the sensors 1220, thehome automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, andthe robotic devices 1290 to use the direct local pathway or whether theone or more user devices 1240 and 1250 are far enough from the sensors1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat1234, and the robotic devices 1290 that the pathway over network 1205 isrequired.

In other examples, the system leverages status communications (e.g.,pinging) between the one or more user devices 1240 and 1250 and thesensors 1220, the home automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, thethermostat 1234, and the robotic devices 1290 to determine whethercommunication using the direct local pathway is possible. Ifcommunication using the direct local pathway is possible, the one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250 communicate with the sensors 1220, thehome automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, andthe robotic devices 1290 using the direct local pathway. Ifcommunication using the direct local pathway is not possible, the one ormore user devices 1240 and 1250 communicate with the sensors 1220, thehome automation controls 1222, the camera 1230, the thermostat 1234, andthe robotic devices 1290 using the pathway over network 1205.

In some implementations, the system 1200 provides end users with accessto images captured by the camera 1230 to aid in decision making. Thesystem 1200 may transmit the images captured by the camera 1230 over awireless WAN network to the user devices 1240 and 1250. Becausetransmission over a wireless WAN network may be relatively expensive,the system 1200 can use several techniques to reduce costs whileproviding access to significant levels of useful visual information(e.g., compressing data, down-sampling data, sending data only overinexpensive LAN connections, or other techniques).

In some implementations, a state of the monitoring system and otherevents sensed by the monitoring system may be used to enable/disablevideo/image recording devices (e.g., the camera 1230). In theseimplementations, the camera 1230 may be set to capture images on aperiodic basis when the alarm system is armed in an “away” state, butset not to capture images when the alarm system is armed in a “home”state or disarmed. In addition, the camera 1230 may be triggered tobegin capturing images when the alarm system detects an event, such asan alarm event, a door-opening event for a door that leads to an areawithin a field of view of the camera 1230, or motion in the area withinthe field of view of the camera 1230. In other implementations, thecamera 1230 may capture images continuously, but the captured images maybe stored or transmitted over a network when needed.

The described systems, methods, and techniques may be implemented indigital electronic circuitry, computer hardware, firmware, software, orin combinations of these elements. Apparatus implementing thesetechniques may include appropriate input and output devices, a computerprocessor, and a computer program product tangibly embodied in amachine-readable storage device for execution by a programmableprocessor. A process implementing these techniques may be performed by aprogrammable processor executing a program of instructions to performdesired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriateoutput. The techniques may be implemented in one or more computerprograms that are executable on a programmable system including at leastone programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructionsfrom, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system,at least one input device, and at least one output device.

Each computer program may be implemented in a high-level procedural orobject-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine languageif desired; and in any case, the language may be a compiled orinterpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example,both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processorwill receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or arandom access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodyingcomputer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatilememory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, suchas Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices;magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM). Anyof the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, speciallydesigned ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

It will be understood that various modifications may be made. Forexample, other useful implementations could be achieved if steps of thedisclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or ifcomponents in the disclosed systems were combined in a different mannerand/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit for powering a chime that outputs audioin response to detection of an entity by a video doorbell, the circuitcomprising: a rectifier circuit configured to generate a first signalbased on a power source; a first switch coupled to the rectifiercircuit, wherein the first switch is configured to provide, based on thefirst signal, a first direct-current (DC) voltage signal during a firstoperating mode where the video doorbell receives input that triggersactuation of the chime in response to detection of the entity; and asecond switch coupled to the rectifier circuit and the first switch,wherein the second switch is configured to provide, based on the firstsignal, a second DC voltage signal during a second operating mode wherethe chime outputs the audio based on the input that triggers actuationof the chime in response to detection of the entity.
 2. The circuit ofclaim 1, further comprising: switch control circuitry that includes athird switch coupled to the first switch, wherein the third switch is acurrent amplifier that generates a control signal to cause the firstswitch to turn on and provide the first DC voltage signal.
 3. Thecircuit of claim 2, wherein the second switch is configured as a singlepole double throw (SPDT) switch that is used to switch between at leasttwo signal paths of the circuit.
 4. The circuit of claim 2, wherein: thefirst switch is a current-controlled bipolar junction transistor (BJT)that generates a base-emitter voltage from the first signal based on acurrent signal generated by the third switch; the second switch is avoltage-controlled field effect transistor (FET) that generates agate-to-source voltage proportional to the first signal generated by therectifier circuit; and the third switch is a current-controlled BJT thatgenerates the current signal based on a threshold amount of current thatflows along a circuit path that couples the second switch and the thirdswitch.
 5. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the threshold time period isless than 200 milliseconds.
 6. The circuit of claim 1, comprising: avoltage divider intermediate the rectifier circuit and the secondswitch, wherein the voltage divider is configured to generate a voltagethat is proportional to the first signal generated by the rectifiercircuit; and a differentiator circuit coupled to the voltage divider,wherein the differentiator circuit cooperates with the voltage dividerto accelerate turning off the second switch in the absence of an appliedvoltage to the chime.
 7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the adjustedvoltage signal is used to turn on the second switch to ring the chimewhen the video doorbell receives input that triggers actuation of thechime in response to detection of the entity.
 8. The circuit of claim 1,wherein the circuit is configured to: generate the second DC voltagesignal for a threshold time period to supply power to the chime withoutgenerating a current that induces magnetic effects in the chime thatdisrupt operation of the chime.
 9. The circuit of claim 1, comprising: afirst signal path that corresponds to the first operating mode, and thefirst switch routes power signals of the power source using the firstsignal path to apply available power of the power source to the videodoorbell.
 10. The circuit of claim 9, comprising: a second, differentsignal path that corresponds to the second operating mode, and thesecond switch routes power signals of the power source using the secondsignal path to apply available power of the power source to the chime tooutput the audio during the second operating mode.
 11. The circuit ofclaim 10, wherein the available power of the power source is all of thepower that is output by the power source.
 12. The circuit of claim 1,wherein: (i) the second switch is a field-effect transistor comprising agate, a drain, and a source; (ii) a voltage at the gate of the secondswitch is used to control when a current signal is routed through thechime to output the audio; and (iii) the current signal corresponds toan output power of the power source.
 13. The circuit of claim 1,wherein: the first DC voltage signal is for powering a plurality ofcomponents of the video doorbell; and the second DC voltage signal isfor powering the chime in response to detection of the entity.
 14. Thecircuit of claim 13, wherein the chime outputs audio in response to abutton on the video doorbell being pressed by an individual.
 15. Thecircuit of claim 13, wherein the chime outputs audio in response todetection of the entity based on: an object detector of the videodoorbell that detects objects in an image frame captured by the videodoorbell.
 16. The circuit of claim 15, wherein the chime outputs audioin response to detection of an individual based on: a proximity sensorof the video doorbell that detects individuals within a thresholdproximity of a property where the video doorbell is installed; or amotion sensor of the video doorbell that detects motion within athreshold distance of the video doorbell.
 17. The circuit of claim 1,wherein the power source is: a regulated alternating-current (AC) powersource configured to generate an AC power signal that is received as aninput signal to the rectifier circuit; or a DC power source configuredto generate a DC power signal that is received as an input signal to therectifier circuit.
 18. A method implemented using a circuit for poweringa chime that outputs audio in response to detection of an entity by avideo doorbell, the method comprising: generating, by a rectifiercircuit of the circuit, a first signal based on a power source;generating, using a first switch coupled to the rectifier circuit, afirst direct-current (DC) voltage signal based on the first signal,wherein the first DC voltage signal is generated during a firstoperating mode where the video doorbell receives input that triggersactuation of the chime in response to detection of the entity;generating, using a second switch coupled to the rectifier circuit andthe first switch, a second DC voltage signal based on the first signal,wherein the second DC voltage signal is generated during a secondoperating mode where the chime outputs the audio based on the input thattriggers actuation of the chime in response to detection of the entity;and powering the chime based on the second DC voltage signal withoutgenerating a current signal that triggers a particular noise output fromthe chime.
 19. The method of claim 18, comprising: generating, by aswitch control circuitry of the circuit, a control signal to cause thefirst switch to turn on and provide the first DC voltage signal, whereinthe switch control circuitry includes a third switch that is coupled tothe first switch, and the third switch is a current amplifier thatgenerates the control signal.
 20. The method of claim 18, comprising:generating an adjusted voltage signal using a voltage divider that isintermediate the rectifier circuit and the second switch, wherein thevoltage divider is configured to generate the adjusted voltage signal byadjusting a magnitude of the first signal.